Israel blames Hamas for electricity crisis in Gaza Strip

In a Facebook post, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories claimed Hamas is using some of the electricity provided by Israel for digging tunnels and otherwise preparing for war instead of assisting its population.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, said Thursday Hamas was to blame for the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip.

In a Facebook post addressed to the citizens of Gaza, Mordechai wrote that Hamas "uses some of the electricity for digging tunnels and for the homes of its senior officials." He added that Hamas uses money it gets from Iran for "funding its military wing, purchasing cement and other materials in order to prepare for war, instead of providing humanitarian aid for its population."

Mordechai's statements came hours after the Palestinian Authority announced it would stop paying Israel for electricity supplied to the Gaza Strip.

Providing electricity to Gaza costs Israel about 40 million shekels a month, which it deducts from the PA's taxes.

Israel currently provides Gaza with 125MW from ten power lines, which account for 30% of the electricity supply in the Strip. The local power station has been inactive for a while, causing a 12-hour blackout for every six hours of electricity.